Kapampangan B/W short film 'Ing Bangkeru'

Last Thursday and Friday, Kalalangan Kamaru screened Ing Bangkeru (The Boatman), directed by yours truly. It is a Kapampangan short film that is a screen adaptation of an anonymous Kapampangan ballad of the same title.


Having a lot of long takes, being in black and white, and having an unconventional (philosophical) story line, I was expecting the audiences to get bored by it.

Last Thursday, we went to Systems Plus College Foundation in Balibago, Angeles City and screened all of our works, including the first episode of Kalam, to all the 4th year high school students.

Surprisingly, Ing Bangkeru was able to keep up, as the students not only appreciated it -- they enjoyed it. They understood the story very well and cheered, hollered for the clever boatman when he was owning the arrogant student. There were two screenings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon; the reactions of both batches were just the same.

Then, Last Friday, Brillante Mendoza's award-winning Kapampangan film Kaleldo had two runs at the Holy Angel University Theater. Serving as front act was Ing Bangkeru. I watched (even paid a ticket), majorly only to check out the reactions of the audience to our short film.

Boy, were my assistant director Diego and I ecstatic with the audience reaction! They enjoyed it as well, and their reaction was like an exact copy of the reaction of the students from Systems Plus. The difference, the HAU Theater has 1000 seating capacity. That makes 2000 individuals (because it had two runs, and the theater was full in both runs), and to see them applaud for our short film in spite of its strange treatment, it was very heartwarming. As Diego stated: maybug kung gumaga (I want to cry).

Haven't watched it yet? Here:

Mernuts: A Taste of Kapampangan Pop

Mernuts consists of Jhaye Arzaga (vocals), Chao Chua (vocals and guitars), Paeng Sabado (bass), Jun Catacutan (lead guitars), and Jay Salazar (drums).

Mernuts is a rap-RnB-funk Kapampangan band. A dance floor full of sweaty people is always the goal once the band sets in motion and they will stop at nothing to make sure that happens. The band's material successfully combines elements from many styles of popular music with one common theme; it all makes you feel entertained—urban Kapampangan style!

This band from Tarlac City, made a small but significant contribution to the RocKapampangan album with their single and original composition Aliwa Kang Talaga.



Formed in 2007, they fondly translate famous hit RnB songs into the Kapampangan language. The very famous Irreplaceable of Beyonce was translated by two members of the band (Jhaye and Chao) became a hit on YouTube and has drawn people’s attention.



The rest of their original Kapampangan translations such as, Taksil (Rihanna’s Unfaithful), Payung (Rihanna’s Umbrella), E Na Ku Kikiak (Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry) also gathered a lot of comments and admiration from their YouTube followers.

This spirited, fresh new English-Kapampangan band worked so hard in order to pursue their aim that is to bring smiles to other people’s faces. With their ability to make music, they have composed English songs, Hear Me, Alice, It Should Be You and the newest song Oras which will be used in Kalam (a Kapampangan TV series) for its closing song. Their songs address the joys of womanhood, with staunch advice on how to treat errant boyfriends.

The music video of Oras is currently played regularly on MTV Pilipinas’ “Tong Hits” OPM show. It’s the first Kapampangan music video to penetrate MTV.